Four blasts were heard in Yemen's main port city of Hodeidah late on Tuesday on the first day of a ceasefire agreed between the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and the Saudi-backed government at U.N.-led peace talks last week, residents said.
Reuters. Tue, 18 Dec 2018 16:38:35 -0500.

It will be the first meeting of a Redeployment Coordination Committee that oversees the ceasefire and withdrawal of forces, said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. ...
Yahoo. Tue, 18 Dec 2018 13:11:11 -0500.

Afghan government negotiators have arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to join U.S.-brokered talks with the Taliban, as efforts intensify to negotiate an end to Afghanistan's 17-year war.
Radio Liberty. Tue, 18 Dec 2018 17:04:38 +0000.

Matthew Hedges, 31, was sentenced to life in prison in the UAE after his arrest at the end of a two-week research trip. He spoke to Good Morning Britain today in his first UK TV interview after his release.
Daily Mail. Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:32:58 +0000.

The kingdom said the Senate's position is "based on baseless allegations and accusations" that distort the truth, and accused U.S. lawmakers of interfering in its affairs.
Bill Chappell. NPR. Mon, 17 Dec 2018 12:04:40 -0500.

Representatives from the group joined diplomats from the United States and several Asian countries in the United Arab Emirates, but resisted meetings with the Afghan delegation.
Mujib Mashal. New York Times. Mon, 17 Dec 2018 15:47:31 GMT.

Facts About The Arabian Peninsula

The Arabian Peninsula is located in southwestern Asia, in a region
known as the Middle East. Nations on the Arabian Peninsula
include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as well as Oman, Qatar,
Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. To the northwest of the
peninsula lie the Arab States of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Arabic is the primary language of these States.

More news and information about selected Arab nations
is available at the official government websites listed below.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's capital city is Riyadh, and its national
currency is the Saudi Arabian Riyal. In 2007, the population of
Saudi Arabia was estimated at 27,601,000.

The Kingdom of Bahrain's capital city is Manama, and its national
currency is the Bahrain Dinar. The estimated population of Bahrain
in 2007 was 709,000.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's capital city is Amman, and its
national currency is the Jordanian Dinar. In 2007, the population
of Jordan was estimated at 6,053,000.

The State of Kuwait's
capital city is Kuwait City, and its national
currency is the Kuwaiti Dinar. The estimated population of Kuwait
in 2007 was 2,506,000.

The Republic of Lebanon's capital city is Beirut, and its national
currency is the Lebanese Pound. In 2007, the population of Lebanon
was estimated at 3,926,000.

The Sultanate of Oman's capital city is Muscat,
and its national currency is the Omani Real.
The estimated population of Oman in 2007 was 3,205,000.

The State of Qatar's capital city is Doha, and its national currency
is the Qatari Riyal. Qatar's estimated population in 2007 was
907,000.

The United Arab Emirates' capital city is Abu Dhabi, and its national
currency is the Dirham. In 2007, the UAE's estimated population
was 4,444,000.

The Republic of Yemen's capital city is San'a, and its national currency
is the Yemeni Riyal. Yemen's population in 2007 was estimated at
about 22,231,000.